“Medusa teaches us that we have the right to defend ourselves. So often we are taught that we need to put up with the actions of others in a quiet way, demurely accepting what others would put upon us. She shows us that we need to stand our ground when someone would do us harm. We are not here to quietly accept the intentions of others. We have the right to be safe.
Medusa tells us to know our power and to honor the gifts that swim within our veins, even though sometimes it may feel like more of a curse than a blessing. She brings us the wisdom of the snake, of transformation and of rebirth. She asks that we too hold up the mirrored shield towards those that would wish us ill and reflect back upon them what they have created.
Medusa reminds us that there will always be those who will spit venom at us, in word and deed. That does not make them right. We are not here to be the plaything of others. We are Sacred Priestesses of the Divine. And we will not back down.”
“The dances are prayers.” –Pop Chalee, TAOS PUEBLO
When we dance to the drum we pray to the Creator and attract the heartbeat of the earth. We never dance without reason; every dance has a purpose. We dance for rain; we dance for healing; we dance for seasons; we dance for joy; we dance for our children; we dance for the people; we dance for courage. The drum plays to the beat of the heart, to the beat of the Earth. The drum connects us to the Earth while we dance our prayers.
Oh, Great One, let my dance and prayer be heard by You.
Copied with the permission of Don L. Coyhis, from the book Meditations with Native American Elders: The Four Seasons
Once, I ran from fear so fear controlled me. Until I learned to hold fear like a newborn. Listen to it, but not give in. Honour it, but not worship it. Fear could not stop me anymore. I walked with courage into the storm. I still have fear, but it does not have me.
Once, I was ashamed of who I was. I invited shame into my heart. I let it burn. It told me, “I am only trying to protect your vulnerability”. I thanked shame dearly, and stepped into life anyway, unashamed, with shame as a lover.
Once, I had great sadness buried deep inside. I invited it to come out and play. I wept oceans. My tear ducts ran dry. And I found joy right there. Right at the core of my sorrow. It was heartbreak that taught me how to love.
Once, I had anxiety. A mind that wouldn’t stop. Thoughts that wouldn’t be silent. So I stopped trying to silence them. And I dropped out of the mind, and into the Earth. Into the mud. Where I was held strong like a tree, unshakeable, safe.
Once, anger burned in the depths. I called anger into the light of myself. I felt its shocking power. I let my heart pound and my blood boil. Listened to it, finally. And it screamed, “Respect yourself fiercely now!”. “Speak your truth with passion!”. “Say no when you mean no!”. “Walk your path with courage!”. “Let no one speak for you!” Anger became an honest friend. A truthful guide. A beautiful wild child.
Once, loneliness cut deep. I tried to distract and numb myself. Ran to people and places and things. Even pretended I was “happy”. But soon I could not run anymore. And I tumbled into the heart of loneliness. And I died and was reborn into an exquisite solitude and stillness. That connected me to all things. So I was not lonely, but alone with All Life. My heart One with all other hearts.
Once, I ran from difficult feelings. Now, they are my advisors, confidants, friends, and they all have a home in me, and they all belong and have dignity. I am sensitive, soft, fragile, my arms wrapped around all my inner children. And in my sensitivity, power. In my fragility, an unshakeable Presence.
In the depths of my wounds, in what I had named “darkness”, I found a blazing Light that guides me now in battle.
If you’re like me, you were trained to be apologetic, to feel small, and to say and do things to keep you feeling that way.
It took a few decades before I put my foot down to this behavior. I will no longer apologize for who I am … yet I will always look for ways to be grateful for, and to, the people in my life who help me on the way.
It is difficult to change (never break) habitual patterns that were taught to us as children and young adults. These are our most formative years, and one reason why the memories of youth stay with us so long … even for those who suffer dementia.
Yet changing habitual patterns is necessary if we wish to change our reality.
As Dr Joe Dispenza states, “Your personal reality is formed by your personality.”
It is important to do things differently if we wish to experience a shift in our personal reality.
Skip the coffee in the morning, have juice instead. Drive a different route to work. Pack a lunch rather than going out. Sit under a tree and eat it, or go to the car and listen to soft music while you eat. After work, go to a hot-springs for a soak rather than going home to sit in front of the television … read a book, or color, or zentangle … get your creative skills going. Change the time you eat, the foods you choose, fast for awhile. If you take sleeping pills, skip them a few days, as much as you can stand … let the mind wander and ‘put up with’ a few sleepless nights … much can be accomplished should we allow our hidden consciousness loose for a time. Much will be revealed … scary things we can then ponder on and work out, lovely things we can grow in mind …
These are only a few ideas, of which I put into practice on a regular basis, not all at once of course, but I choose at least one thing in the day to do differently.
Being predictable can lead to many problems when it comes to our relationships with others, and even more detrimental, with our selves.
If you are having a bad day, consciously make it a point to start creating a list of things you are grateful for … any and all things that come to mind. It will shift your perspective fairly quickly, seriously. It will make it easier to process through whatever got you in a funk in the first place and rather than dwell there, you will be able to move on, into the next idea, thought form, or practice. And don’t just visit the list next time you’re in a funk, create a new list … because this list changes over time.
Mostly, stop apologizing for being you, stop making yourself small, giving away your power to stand tall and strong …
I’m not saying to become agressive, or overpowering … becoming that which has held you down for so long …. I’m suggesting a rising …. to heights originally intended for you … for we.
It is not a chosen few who get to occupy these spaces of strength and personal authority. It is you, it is me, it is we.
As most of us are busy trying to create a reality for ourselves that is healthy, happy and whole, there are others working against us.
You see, their goal is to manipulate the reality of everyone around them … in this way, they manipulate their own.
Two kinds of players …
The honest, who keep to themselves,
And the greedy, who get a kick out of disrupting the lives of others. This gives them a sense of power … and it may even be rewarded by those higher up in the game, doing the same.
The question is …
Are we aware of this fact? Or are we being pulled here and there, at the whim of another, or others.
It is easy to tell ourself we will not be manipulated, but are we telling ourself the truth? How can this be truth when we cannot see the bigger picture? The game … the hoopla … the hoops we continuously jump through at the guidance of others?
Reality …. it’s tough, especially when we cannot see it.
I did not watch the debate more than 15 minutes last night. Two grown men, calling each other liars …. like arguing children. And people are caught up in it as if it is the most important thing in this world.
Who is creating reality? Arguing children, or you?
It’s plain to see should one step back and simply observe without getting emotionally entangled. It takes practice … and time is short.
Stepping back now would be the wise thing to do.
Stop the drink, the drug, the mind altering substances which inhibit clear thinking.
Unless of course you enjoy being played ….
Then by all miens, continue.
Realities are being designed, right now. The one you buy in to will be yours for some time.
Choose wisely.
I say these things for my benefit, as much as yours.
What you choose now will be your reality for years to come.
Birthdays are celebrated on week days … or, weak days.
Think about it.
Every year on the birth date, people feel older, more mature, aged.
At first they are eager to count the years going by. Then a ‘time’ arrives when they dread counting them … they may even stop, and insist others stop counting for them, also.
The mind slows, eventually. The body weakens. The muscles deteriorate.
Could it be a mass hypnosis, these birthdays, celebrated on week (weak) days?
Growing older a hypnotic illusion, which we participate in making truth?
Eating and drinking toxins throughout life, calling it diet.
Subconscious, or unconscious as it may seem, it also appears to be a reality.
On December 17, 1914, a solitary Native American Indian on horseback arrived at the White House after a journey of some 3,000 miles. His name was Red Fox James believed to be from the Blackfoot Tribe.
The journey began on March 30. Red Fox James was riding a white pony named Montana that was said to be “the last of a strain of real American Indian ponies from a noted outlaw horse known as Tombstone.” Along the way, Red Fox James stopped to give speeches about his people, and to demonstrate his culture and equestrian skill on horseback.
Red Fox James slowly made his way across the United States by riding the Lincoln Highway and often walking all day to conserve his horse’s strength. Newspapers reported his whereabouts every few weeks. He made friends with the Boy Scouts along the way, prompting eight Washington, D.C. Troop 36 scouts to escort him to the White House where Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Montana introduced him to President Woodrow Wilson on December 17.
Red Fox James presented a petition to the president, endorsed by state governors and city mayors he had met along the way, to proclaim October 12 ‘Native American Indian Day’ in honor of Native American Indians (current States who highlight & observe this specific day: AK, CA, MN, NM, SD, VT, WA) . “The American Indian deserves the national consideration of the people of the United States,” Red Fox James said.
The picture shows Red Fox James and his pony Montana during a return visit to Washington, D.C. in February 1915.
This is what two boxers look like who just had a fight of 110 rounds!
Yes, you read 110 rounds correctly ((( 7 h 19 m fighting! )))
It was April 6, 1893, Andy Browen and Jack Burke
The fight ended in No-Contest because at the round 111 call the two exhausted and touched boxers were unable to get up from the stool to resume the fight.
This is of course the longest boxing fight in history!
I was not raised with any type of religion …. or even any sort of metaphysical beliefs.
In August the date of September 28th was spoken to my mind from the unseen. I asked some folks I had been communicating with if that date meant anything to them, to which they replied, no, and so I asked that they keep it in mind.
Last night I had a visitor in the astral. A man with a full beard, he lifted it to expose his throat and told me I could punch him if I wanted to. Of course I said, “I do not want to punch you, I want to learn from you.”
Today I looked at the calendar. Yom Kipper is the 28th, beginning at sundown on the 27th.
I am completely naive when it comes to religions, faiths, and practices. I can tell you tho, that since this specific date was spoken to me from beyond the veil, and since I had a visitor in the astral who was obviously a Jewish man, I will do my best to honor the holy day, and abide by the rules, seeking the forgiveness and atonement … for I can tell you this has not been an easy process, this awakening. I’ve said many things that were of war-like nature and rebellion, when all my heart ever wished for was peace.
Yom Kipper is marked by a 25 hour fast starting at sundown (6:57pm pst) of the 27th until sundown (6:55pm pst) on the 28th.
During this time no water is allowed, including that which is used to brush the teeth. Medication should be avoided unless it will cause a major life threatening event. No sex, no shower (or washing), no cosmetics, no creams, no perfumes, no deodorant, no cell phones and no leather shoes for they denote wealth and prosperity. I’m guessing this goes for jewelry also.
It is stated that one is to do no work that day, although I am required to go to work, and if I call in sick, I’d be lying … so I’m hoping it is a slow day and I can chill out in meditation to some simple sounds. (I wonder if music is not allowed?) I’ve googled it and found a guided meditation, and also a site that states meditation, music and movement will be part of the services.
“On Yom Kippur, we stand completely revealed in this mysterious enterprise called life,” said Rabbi Yael, specifically avoiding the word “God,” since the concept can sometimes close the hearts of people who are not sure what they believe.
Clothing worn can be white if one wishes to connect more fully with the atonement and repentance of the day.
Tashlich, the symbolic casting away of sins on Rosh Hashana, is usually done outside by a body of water, you can throw pebbles, or bird seed in whatever nearby water is available, including a kiddie swimming pool. Another option: Writing down your sins on rice paper, which dissolves in water. (On Amazon, it’s often referred to as “spy paper.”) PS ~ Don’t drink the water.
My life has been one trial after the other. There have been many circumstances that came and went that actually threatened my life, my health, both physical and mental. At times, even now I might add since I have greater realization, my entire well-being is at stake, simply by being unobservant or careful about certain things … and so I work on altering habitual patterns that are not of benefit.
I can tell you, I had no idea that who I have been experiencing for the last near 20 years was participants of the faith, and that of the actual Jewish God. And here I thought I was simply insane.
This is our wake-up call … should we choose to heed it.
opensenseme 